I would say start off with small residential or multifamily deals so you can expand your network and tool belt of mortgage brokers, inspectors, and others.

@Ashish Acharya, I would buy tools through the company, and then have some income on the book for end-of-year taxes. 

We are already seeing Portland landlords take their rentals out of production and sell the SFRs there has been such a huge run up in values and there is SUCH a HUGE shortage of SFRs available it makes no sense to keep them as rentals.. there by reducing the housing stock even more. 

HELOC's are great tools.

Since the property doesn't cash flow, what kind of metrics / analysis / tools do I use to guage appreciation potential?

They should have tools and knowledge on how to analyze the performance and potential of a property.5.

Don't be the first-time investor (like I was) who quickly bought a decent deal, only to find a MUCH better deal 3 weeks later, but be forced to pass on it because my capital was tied-up.I want to share my favorite tool for modeling real estate deals - I found it through the BiggerPockets podcast.

None of these guys have real trim carpentry experience or are willing to travel and operate with the right tools for it, so when they put the trim back it often looks like a monkey did it.All that being said, I'm in no-hurricane western PA.

Doesn't matter if they are in an A+ or C- area... some idiot will see an empty house and bust in thinking that you left your tools inside that they can take the pawn shop.

Real Estate is a very profession, and a wealth building tool.